The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recovered a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft west of the Strait of Hormuz after seizing control of its guidance and control systems. An IRGC Navy public relations statement said its electronic warfare unit intercepted an MQM-170 decoy drone, bringing it down intact to recover data from the craft. Iranian specialists alleged the drone had launched from a country on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf to locate air defense systems along the coastline.
The claim follows reports that the Guard also shot down an MQ-1 drone near the city of Sirik, which it identified as the 14th such aircraft it has destroyed. In a separate incident, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency is investigating a vessel spotted on fire 9NM north of Khasab, Oman. While the status of the crew is currently unknown, thermal satellite imagery suggests a second vessel in the area may have been targeted.